The Palin Pick Spurs National Organization For Women To Endorse Obama

by Todd Beeton, Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:34:27 PM EST

Ah the law of unintended consequences. Kim Gandy, President of NOW on NPR this morning announced that NOW would be endorsing Barack Obama for president and made it really clear why:

The 500,000-strong women's movement, which "very, very rarely endorses in a general election", broke with its tradition of neutrality after "the addition of Sarah Palin gave us a new sense of urgency," said Gandy.

"She is being portrayed as a supporter of women's rights ... as a feminist when in fact her positions on so many of the issues are really anathema to ours," Gandy said. [...]

"The idea that she opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest -- those kinds of positions are completely out of step with American women and once they find out about those positions, they get a little less excited about a woman running for vice president," Gandy said.

NOW's press release lists off those issues and for each one explains why the Obama-Biden ticket is far more on the side of women than the McCain-Palin ticket would ever be:

On pay equity. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to end wage discrimination against women.

On reproductive rights. Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of the Prevention First Act, to strengthen access to contraception and reproductive health care, and prevent unwanted pregnancies. He strongly supports Roe v. Wade and will oppose any efforts to overturn it.

On violence against women. Sen. Obama supports the continued reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act -- of which Sen. Joe Biden is the chief sponsor -- as well as the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act, which is legislation to provide legal, medical and financial support to victims of domestic violence.

On the Supreme Court. Sen. Obama opposed the nominations of George Bush's extreme right-wing nominees to the Supreme Court, who have consistently ruled against women's rights,

For more than a decade, Barack Obama has said "yes" to women's rights, while John McCain has consistently said "no."

Kudos to NOW for getting off the fence for this monumental election and -- credit where credit is due -- thanks to John McCain for helping push them.




Tags: barack obama, joe biden, sarah palin, NOW (all tags)

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Re: The Palin Pick Spurs National Organization For (none / 0)

Awesome, they need to hit those points in an ad.


Conservatism is nothing but a bad laissez-fairey tale
by neko608 on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:37:10 PM EST

The Palin Pick stirs terror (2.00 / 2)

Damn.  Palin is the one who is driving me to vote Democratic in the fall instead of not at all.  As some might have noticed, I haven't been an Obama lover, but Palin is the monster I have always had nightmares about, and Mccain is scaring the crap out of me too, so...........


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:38:45 PM EST

Is she trying to follow Clinton around? (none / 0)

Apparently, Palin is planning to be one of the speakers an anti-Iran rally set for Monday; Clinton had already been scheduled as one of the speakers in August.  Palin was a late substitute.  I guess that cannot make Buchanan too happy.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:44:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Is she trying to follow Clinton around? (none / 0)

Maybe she is...


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:47:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This is just getting a little too weird... (none / 0)

Hey, maybe her admiration of HRC is genuine... I'd be a little weirded out if I were Clinton.  The McCain/Palin ticket is one strange pair.

You know what's kind of funny lori, the pre-VP Palin was probably a lot closer to the Obama from last summer in terms of foreign policy than she was to her running mate.  That's the sense I get from her past rhetoric and how certain conservatives such as Buchanan are lamenting how the neocons have "stolen" her from him.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:53:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is just getting a little too weird... (none / 0)

I can't believe she is tempting Russia into war, when she can see them from Alaska supposedly.  That is what is bizarre.  I haven't heard about Hillary speaking at an "anti Iran" rally.  I can't believe that that is the right description of the rally , if she is.  How can she have time for that, and that doesn't sound like her.


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:00:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is just getting a little too weird... (none / 0)

I think the rally is to protest the presence of Ahmadinejad at the UN , an anti  iran rally might not be the best description.

That said I am not surprised Clinton would speak at the rally , falls in line with her policy positions regarding the holocaust denier...

With regards to Palin and the Russia question , she frankly just stated what NATO policy is in response to Gibson and she was accurate by the way . It had nothing to do with baiting Russia into a war...


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:04:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is just getting a little too weird... (none / 0)

She was a little to loud about it.  It isn't a good idea for someone running for president to just causually drop statements like she did.  Countries like Russia are watching what all of these candidates are saying, and nothing should be said off the cuff.  I saw her as saying a little more than just the policy.  

I now realize why Palin is speaking.  I didn't know it was connected with the UN, but I heard conjecture on the news tonight, that she will be able to make contact at the UN with heads of state and can then say she has met with some.  Lucky for her, they will all be in one place and she won't have to travel to their individual countries and meet with them quickly while they're fueling her plane.


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:11:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nah, she most certainly is (none / 0)

it's in NY on the eve of Ahman's visit to the UN.  She's hawkish on Iran, I don't think there's any question about that.  We've got hawks in the party, Biden with Russia and HRC with Iran.  Remember Biden went over to Georgia to kiss the president's ass and came back wanting to give them over $1 billion in aid.  Biden's probably more cautious with Iran and HRC is probably more cautious with Russia.  Sam Nunn is not smiling.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:05:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Nah, she most certainly is (none / 0)

Clinton is almost as tough on Russia as Mccain is .

Infact she has been talking about Russia for a long time now and the need to get tough with Putin.


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:12:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Her recent comments suggested (none / 0)

to me that she wasn't as bullish on Russia as Biden and McCain (and I suppose Obama as well).  I'll try to find them and post them to get your thoughts.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:21:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Here you go lori (2.00 / 1)

HRC at a Sept. 15 Senate hearing on the Russian/Georgian conflict. http://www.spiegel.de/international/worl d/0,1518,578273,00.html

"Did we embolden the Georgians in any way" to use military force? she asks the members of the committee. Did the Bush administration really warn Moscow and Georgia sufficiently about the consequences of a war? And how could it be that the United States was so taken by surprise by this outbreak of hostilities? These questions, says Clinton, should be examined by a US commission, which should "in the first place determine the actual facts."

I cannot imagine Biden or McCain ever questioning the motives of the Georgian president.  HRC sounds like the old Obama in this hearing.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:25:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is just getting a little too weird... (none / 0)

so I guess calling her a "whiner" was just some "tough love" then?  ;)


Conservatism is nothing but a bad laissez-fairey tale
by neko608 on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:03:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Actually, she technically didn't (none / 0)

call her a whiner; if you read the statement literally (there you go Biden), Palin said that HRC's complaints about the media could be perceived as whining.  Pelosi pretty much said something to the same effect with the only difference being that she didn't use the word "whining."

I wasn't weirded out by Palin before (her views are pretty similar to the views held by most of the pub women I know in VA), but her seemingly joining Clinton at this rally, now that's just strange.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:14:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is just getting a little too weird... (none / 0)

I understand that Palin has quit mentioning Hillary at rallies. Apparently the crowds were booing when she talked about Hillary.


by Angry White Democrat on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 12:26:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Who is more hawkish by the way (none / 0)

HRC or Biden?  Biden seems ready to throw down on Russia and HRC seems fired up and ready to go with Iran.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:55:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who is more hawkish by the way (2.00 / 1)

This is hardly "all fired up and ready to go" with Iran.  We have no idea what her speech will consist of.  Apparently, she is going as a rep from the Obama campaign.  Will Palin's handlers be there moving her mouth?  I can't believe they are letting her loose like that.  She might say something totally wacky on them, unscripted and everything.


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:06:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who is more hawkish by the way (none / 0)

woops.

http://jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/110 403.html


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:06:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Who is more hawkish by the way (none / 0)

Hillary Rodham Clinton maintains a tougher line with regards to the international threats we have .

It makes a lot of democrats on the left uncomfortable but that was one of my attractions to her.

Biden is close to her but not as close...


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:06:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I don't know (none / 0)

Biden offering $1 billion in aid to Georgia sounded pretty confrontational and dismissive of the Russian argument that South Ossetia was invaded.  I suspect not too much of that money is going to SO.

If Palin didn't have that one "moment" with the Bush Doctrine question, I thought her interview would have been passable.  She dodged the Iran/Israel question but so does Obama.  I really don't detect too much daylight between Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin on the Russian/Georgian conflict except for rhetoric.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:11:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't know (none / 0)

On the Bush doctrine , I don't really blame her . I think Gibson was looking for a gotcha moment and he felt he got it .

It did make her look unsure of herself..

The question wasn't specific enough and I don't know how many people know what the hell the Bush Doctrine is , infact I didn't even know Bush had a doctrine.

It was an unfair way to ask a question.

If you had sat Obama / Clinton in that chair and Gibson had posed the same question to them , they would probably have had the same reaction ,

what exactly are you talking about Charlie ... lol

It wasn't a memorable interview , she was too scripted but it probably wouldn't hurt ....


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:19:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't know (none / 0)

I think Hillary and Obama would have known it.  To me, she is not in the same category as the ordinary person as far as who else would know about it.  She should be a whole lot more aware than the ordinary person is of everything having to do with foriegn policy, and everything else.  I don't want someone like me to get into the presidency.  I want someone a whole lot smarter than I am and a whole lot more knowledgeable than I am to be in line for when McCain croaks.


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:27:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't know (none / 0)

The Bush doctrine could be any of the policy positions he has made use . If we even limited it to foreign policy , it could be anything.

Gibson should have been more specific..

It could have been the policy to treat countries that harbor terrorist as terrorist themselves , it could be the preemption thing , it could be going into these countries unilaterally ...

Its not as straightforward as Truman's doctrine of containment or even Reagans Doctrine of backing anti communist guerillas like the contras.

Gibson should have been clearer since there is no precise " Bush doctrine " , just a bunch of policy positions..


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:44:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't know (none / 0)

I really think that many called his preemptive strike policy, the Bush Doctrine.  I didn't know what it was, but I had heard the term plenty of times.  But nevertheless, I don't even think she had heard the term, and when she was being prepared by the handlers, you would think they would have anticipated questions related to that.  My gripe still is that I want someone wayyyyyyyyy more knowledgable about the world than she is with a bigger vision of foriegn policy, and certainly a lot more knowledgable  than I am. I think that is going to start weighing more heavily on people as time goes on, and certainly when you put her up against Biden in a debate.


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:56:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't know (none / 0)

Fair enough .

I don't believe she has the experience on foreign policy issues either that much was clear in that interview...

Although I disagree with those who claim she doesn't have the qualifications to aspire to the presidency or VP .

Her qualifications is as good as Romney's , Huckabee ,Obama or even Mccain's for that matter ...

Guiliani was qualified as a mayor to be president , she has been a mayor , a governor , yet she doesn't have the qualifications to run for the presidency or VP. She is not experienced on the national thats a debate she would probably conceed.


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 10:03:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't know (none / 0)

I think it's the amount of experience in comparison.  I have met mayors of towns the size of the one she has been mayor of.  The one who I talked to in depth, also had a FT job at the same time having nothing to do with the mayoral position.  Also, Alaska only has 670,000 people compared to Mass where Romney was Governor.  And Huckabee has been governor longer than Palin, and wasn't he a rep.  before that for a longer while?  I willl have to agree about Obama's tenure, and experience.  He doesn't have experience that is much better.  His saving grace, though, is that he has a better education, is maybe more worldly, and has at least voted on national issues so that we can see his liberal record on paper.  She is a real unknown.  It also bothers me that she went to 4 or 5 different schools.  That probably means that she was able to start all over again at each school with a new QPA, and why was she so unsettled?  She would seem more experienced to me if she had served a full term as governor, so we could actually see the outcome of a longer period of time.


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 10:31:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Palin Pick stirs terror (none / 0)

" I haven't been an Obama lover, but Palin is the monster I have always had nightmares about, and Mccain is scaring the crap out of me too, so..........."

- What were these Palin nightmares about ?..


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:45:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Palin Pick stirs terror (2.00 / 1)

A Republican oil industry supporting vice-presidential candidate who pushes creationism, killing wolves out of planes, overturning repro rights, disbelief of global warming,endangering polar bears, war with russia, and abstinence.  The nightmares started about a year and a half ago.  Uncanny how they have actually come true.  


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 08:56:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Palin Pick stirs terror (none / 0)

Ditto! Although a Clintonista, I had already resolved to vote for Obama/Biden. But after the Palin pick, I sent a few pennies over to our side, and will be spending a few days in Pennsylvania registering voters.


by jerseygirl on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:06:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Palin Pick stirs terror (none / 0)

The Palin pick would have the opposite effect on me if we were to judge the impact , it would make me look more favorably at the ticket if we were to isolate the impact ...

Howver it is interesting to view her impact on former Clinton supporters on this board..


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:09:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That PPP poll from Ohio (none / 0)

seemed to show that Palin is a hit in rural and small-town Ohio (I suppose that would describe where you live) while not a killer in suburban Ohio.

You think Palin could be trying to draw HRC into a conflict to change the subject from the economy?  Clinton just wouldn't bite once in her GMA interview about Palin, I haven't even heard her say Palin's name once except in conjunction with McCain.  I have to think that Team Obama has persuaded her not to engage Palin at all and doesn't want a Clinton-Palin sideshow no matter how much us meatheads want to see a rumble.


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:20:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: That PPP poll from Ohio (none / 0)

I have never thought Clinton would engage Palin at all .

I think it was a mutual decision , Obama camp probably never thougth to ask her to do that knowing thats not a positon she would like to feel as a national leader.

Clinton has never really been a politician that dwelled on attacking opponents i.e. the attack dog role..

If you watched her every speech like I did in the primary like I did , you would notice she never really talked about Obama even when she was down... That was just the misconception that was and is out there.

It is not her position to attack Palin , thats Biden's .

Yeah your description of my neck of the woods is correct , she is becoming a rallying force in rural areas and small towns like I believed she would especially among women .

Ohio is a tough one even without Palin , she just makes it that much harder to win . Southern Ohio and along the South East areas , places like Dayton in which Obama has to cut down the margins would probably pull Mccain over the top in that state due to her presence...  


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:31:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: That PPP poll from Ohio (none / 0)

The one area of hope is that there is time before the election to turn things around.  I think that Palin is peeking as a novelty, She was someone who was brand new and refreshing, people are starting to wonder why she can't be on her own, and what is up with all the scripted stuff.  Also a lot of other stuff is out about her and McCain lying their asses off lately, even though Obama hasn't been entirely innocent.  Thirdly, PPP is one of the biggest farces of a polll there is.


by Scotch on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:37:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Agree on the misconception (none / 0)

I didn't watch every speech but from what I was able to catch on C-Span, she didn't seem to talk about him as much as he talked about her though I think you'll concede that she hit him pretty hard as expected in a competitive contest just as he hit her pretty hard; the primary reason for the misconception may have been that Obama was more subtle.  Obama is so skilled at making it seem as if he's not going negative when he actually is going negative.

I agree that it's probably not a good idea for her or Obama for her to engage Palin; I'm just saying as a dude, I really wouldn't mind a Clinton/Palin one week skirmish.  The meathead elements sometimes take over...


by Blazers Edge on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:49:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Palin Pick stirs terror (none / 0)

Please explain your statement.


Howard Dean is my go-to guy
by lojasmo on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:26:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Palin Pick stirs terror (2.00 / 1)

there is no such thing as a former Hillary supporter. there are Hillary supporters who plan to vote for Barack, but will work on reforming the DNC.  If Barack manages to lose this thing, I'll only have Hilary to hope about, that she can bring as much reason as possible into future legislation.  Sarah has benefited from the raised consciousness of women gained from watching the primary.  Once aware, it's hard to get stupid again, or at least not quickly.  Sarah is no feminist, but she represents the sort of woman many elite like to dismiss and joke about.  it's mean spirited, and that's the very reason John picked her. She was sure to get a nasty press reception and that was sure to keep alive the raised consciousness.  In time democratic women will come to see that she's not on our side even if she is one of our sex, but that may take more time than is left.  And we can be sure that the fat head media talking heads that built up the Hillary hate for their profits won't think to shut up ,and will continue to annoy the heck out of women. And we can also suppose that Barack will snipe at her too, over things that don't matter.   Although on that last one I sure hope I'm wrong.  Stay tuned.  


just say it: Medicare for All
by anna shane on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:37:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Palin Pick stirs terror (none / 0)

I don't think her appeal is really at Clinton democrats , at least not the ones that are partisan democrats , if she does get a portion of that she would take it ..

Her appeal is to conservative democrats  , reagan democrats , Pro life catholic democrats , small town and rural voters both men and women and to independents .

Millions of these type of voters did vote for Hillary Clinton , but these are swing voters in presidential election , as well as on a state level basis.. Not your typical democrat....

Her conservative positions are not foreign to these voters..

I don't think she would get that many of Clinton partisan democrats  especially those that hold on to the liberal orthodoxy and for which the issue of choice is non negotiable...

But there a millions of voters out there that supported clinton who are pro life , or even pro choice but for which choice is not a breaking point that could look at her historic candidacy and her personal life story and relate to it.

She holds very conservative positions but she seems to haves the ability to get folks that don't agree with her to look past it similar to a skill Obama has..


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 09:57:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Palin Pick stirs terror (none / 0)

yes, Bill says he told Barack that he needed to reach out to those of her supporters who were conservative and liked her on competence and pluck.  Sarah's got something that passes for pluck.  And not everyone views competence by the same yardstick.  To me it's very depressing.


just say it: Medicare for All
by anna shane on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 06:08:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

sigh. (none / 0)

so many of the issues are really anathema to ours

and the culture war fires have more fuel...


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that word I reach for my feather Boa!" -- Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 11:16:19 PM EST

Well...what did you want them to say? (none / 0)

I think you're afraid of the white male backlash as they sneer about NOW.  That could very well be, but, c'mon, Palin is about as woman-friendly as Attila the Hun.  Yet, NOW is supposed to be neutral?  

If NOW doesn't stand up in this election for women's rights, then when would they?  

Back in the day of pro-choice Republicans (you know, the Northeastern Republicans ala Christine Whitman, Olympia Snowe, the former RI Senator forgot his name), NOW could safely point out that Rethugs could still 'get it', when it came to women's rights.  Palin is such a far-right Theocon that the membership basically said 'enough is enough...the Republicans have basically become the Southern Theocon party.  There's no such thing as small government, just in-your-face Christianity and psuedo-piety.'

That's my take.  Yes, it will fuel the culture war, but, why NOT fight against it?  The acronym is NOW, not the Democratic Party.


by yankeeinmemphis on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 01:24:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Another endorsement is good, but... (none / 0)

NOW is fairly irrelevant in the political landscape, and has been for many years. Sad, but true.


by PhilFR on Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 07:00:28 AM EST


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